Author Interview – Sarah Fader – CEO of Stigma Fighters and author of “#ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike: When you think everyone hates you & so much more”

I’m still going strong with all of the authors that I continue to invite along for this insightful gaze into their thought processes and what influences them.

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So for tonight, I have a very special guest that has been helping many people with her wise words, so let’s get chatting to author Sarah Fader and find out more about what she is doing to help people with mental health and anxiety issues.

Hi there Sarah, thank you for being with us here today to discuss your latest book release “#ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike: When you think everyone hates you & so much more”.

Let’s start with the book itself, which is meant to be a cathartic experience for those of us suffering with crippling day to day anxiety in our work and social lives. Please tell us how the idea for this book came about, along with your intentions for wanting to write a book about this very common and relatable issue.

When the hashtag blew up on Twitter (#ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike) I was stunned and happy. It was wonderful to see a variety of people sharing their candid thoughts and feelings about anxiety. Anxiety is a highly stigmatized mental health issues. People living with anxiety are often characterized as dramatic. This simply isn’t true.

What did you enjoy the most about writing this book?

What I loved about writing this book (illustrated by Michelle Hammer of Schizophrenic NYC) is that it helps illustrate (literally) what it’s like to have anxiety and be impacted by it.

Tell us your own favourite motivational phrase, mantra or positive saying that you repeatedly turn to in your daily life that helps you to deal with stressful situations.

“The power belongs to the one that cares the least.”
“Be here now.”
“My feelings are valid because I feel them.”
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.”

What is the biggest thing that people THINK they know about chronic anxiety that simply isn’t the case? Are there many common misconceptions relating to this issue? How can people go about changing their behaviour to be more sympathetic of sufferers of chronic anxiety/panic disorders?

One of the biggest misconceptions about anxiety is that people who are anxious are “making it up.” We don’t have the luxury of fabricating lies about our mental health. We’re too busy having physiological symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, obsessive thoughts and more. As human beings we need to refrain from harshly judging one another. I remember one time, a neurologist told me that “it was just anxiety” I was experiencing and “I needed to calm down. Woman, if I could do that so easily I would.

Do you have any stories that you can share about the people that you have spoken to that have discussed suffering with their own anxiety problems?

There are too many to name. Once the hashtag blew up, people were coming to me left and right and sharing their experiences with anxiety. It was truly mind-blowing. I want this honesty about living with anxiety to continue long after this hashtag.

What would you choose as your own personal mascot or spirit animal when it comes to you and your style of writing?

I am a cat, because I’m thoughtful, pensive, introspective and I will deliver brutal truths (hiss at you) if I think you need to hear them. I say the things that people think in their heads but are afraid to say.

You are also the CEO of Stigma Fighters, which is another amazing resource that publishes essays on living and dealing with mental illness. When did you first form this organisation and what feedback have you received from people getting your pieces published in renowned online newspapers and magazines including The Washington Post and Psychology Today?

Recently I was featured in The New York Times, which was the highpoint of my career. I first formed Stigma Fighters as a nonprofit organization with Allie Burke in 2015. I received wonderful feedback from my friends and family as well as mental health advocates all over the world. It is gratifying to hear this praise. It makes my work feel valuable.

What other books have you written? Can you tell us a little bit more about them and their themes?

Three volumes of The Stigma Fighters Anthologies, Old School New School Mom, Goodnight Single Mom, and Three Year Olds are Assholes.

Who are some of the authors, poets, musicians and/or historical figures that inspire you?

E.E Cummings, John Irving, A Tribe Called Quest, Ani Difranco and The Backstreet Boys.

What books have you read that have most influenced your life? Do you have any films that have also had a profound effect on your work and the way you see the world?

A Prayer For Owen Meany, The Fault in Our Stars, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

You have access to a time machine. What advice would you give to your younger self?

You have a right to be successful. You’re stronger than you believe you are.

How do you spend your free time when you are not writing?

Hanging out with my kids, listening to music, playing with my cats and Border Collie, singing loudly. Discovering new places, traveling, and visiting cat cafes.

Tell us more about your upcoming projects. Are you working on anything specific or have plans in the pipeline?

I don’t have anything right now. But there are things always brewing in my head like coffee.

Finally, are there any nuggets of wisdom that you can impart to other aspiring writers?

Just do it. Don’t call yourself an “aspiring writer.” Call yourself a writer. You want to write, then write! Be yourself, write your truth and the right people will read it.

And that’s a wrap! Thank you for spending time with us today and for all that you do helping us to manage anxiety and other health issues, I’m sure a lot of people are going to be grateful to find kindred spirits in your books and new ways to deal with their situations.

Bio:-

Sarah Fader is the CEO and Founder of Stigma Fighters, a non-profit organization that encourages individuals with mental illness to share their personal stories. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Quartz, Psychology Today, The Huffington Post, HuffPost Live, and Good Day New York.

Sarah is a native New Yorker who enjoys naps, talking to strangers, and caring for her two small humans and two average-sized cats. Like six million other Americans, Sarah lives with panic disorder. Through Stigma Fighters, Sarah hopes to change the world, one mental health stigma at a time.

If you too would like to be interviewed on my blog at TooFullToWrite and you have a book or a series of books that you would like us to chat about then fill out the Contact Me form here with your details and we can arrange a future interview slot.

Still want more? Well, Sarah is determined to help bring some serious relief to those suffering from mental illness and anxiety issues. For more articles on the theme of ‘Relieved’ then check out the links below:-

2 thoughts on “Author Interview – Sarah Fader – CEO of Stigma Fighters and author of “#ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike: When you think everyone hates you & so much more””

Oh, my. I hear you about anxiety. I’m the geeky writer, Star Trek/Stargate/Highlander type (whatever that even means). But I’m also a mom living in a small town with almost no one to talk to. I just can’t seem to find very much in common with the other moms. I have to literally psyche myself up before I go out with my kids.

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